Insulating box



March 17, 1936.

v. w. MOODY 2,034,114

INSULATING BOX Filed July 11. 1952 s Sheets-Shet 1 17, 1936. Q v w MQODY 2,034,114 INSULATING BOX Filed July 11; 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 17, 1936. v. w. MOODY 2,934,134

INSULATING BOX r Filed July 11, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Mar. 17, 1936 STAE.

INSULATING BOX Application July 11, 1932, Serial No. 621,875

6 Claims.

This invention has to do with a box or container for maintaining a predetermined temperature, and relates more particularly to a box or container having a plurality of walls of graduated dimensions, those of greater dimension being in sealed assembly to envelop those of smaller dimension in a manner to leave an air space between the walls.

An object of the present invention'is the provision of a box for the preservation of a desired temperature and comprising a series of enclosures, one member being enclosedby the next larger, the walls of said enclosures being supported in separated opposed relationship.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and novel frame for the support of panels to effect a box or container of the character described.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a frame such as the above and held in assembly by an improved form of splined pin.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a box for the preservation of a desired temperature and comprising walls of panels in opposed relationship, there being a void between said panels and a support for each of said panels coextensive with the edge thereof. Still another object of the present invention is to provide, for enclosing a space, walls of a laminated structure, there being voids intermediate said laminations and a bright metallic surface exposed by said laminations.

With the above objects and other desirable objects, in View, the invention is hereinafter set forth with reference to the accompanying drawings hereby made a part of the specification and in which:

Figure l is a central cross section of one form of the invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the form of the invention illustrated in Figure l and taken along the line 2-2 of that figure;

Figure 3 is a view in perspective of a corner of a box as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, panels ,being removed from a side thereof to show details of frame structure therefor;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of a .form of the invention having a frame of a laminated character;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of a form of the invention in which the panels are disposed intermediate the elements of laminated frame members;

Figure 6 is a sectional View of the form of the invention shown in Figure 4 taken along the line E6 of such figure;

Figure 7 is a View of the form of the invention illustrated in Figure 5 and taken along the line l 1 of that figure;

Figure 8 is a central cross section of a different form of the invention;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary View of a form of the invention taken along the line 9-9 of Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary sectional view of the form of the device shown in Figure 8 and taken along the line H)i0 of said figure;

Figure 11 is a fragmentary sectional view of a different form of the invention;

Figure 12 is a fragmentary sectional view of a form of the invention slightly modified from the form shown in Figure 11;

Figure 13 is a fragmentary View of the form of the invention shown in Figure 12 and is taken along the line l3l3 of that figure; and

Figure 14 is an orthographic projection of the form of the invention shown in Figures 12 and 13 and taken on the line l ll4 of Figure 13.

Like reference characters indicate similar parts in the drawings and throughout the following description of the invention.

7 Each of the embodiments of the invention herein described comprises the equivalent of a series of boxes, parallelepiped in shape, with one supported within the other and each being supported along the twelve corners thereof formed by the intersection of adjacent faces.

Reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3 will first be had. In Figure 1, as a part of a frame I 0 for the device, are four ribbed members H in cross section transverse to ribs or steps 12 therein. The frame members H are identical and are of the configuration of a trapezoid, the shorter of the two parallel edges being disposed along a corner l3 formed by the joinder of two sides [4 of an interior cabinet I5.

Connected to the diagonal edges of the members ll shown in cross section in Figure 1 are other members H angularly exposing a stepped face thereof. The diagonal edges of the generally plane-like members I l are beveled so that the diagonal beveled edge of each of said frame members fits regularly into engagement with the similarly treated edge of the two other members, the longitudinal elements of each memberbeing at right angles to those of the other two members. Four frame members ll, not shown in the sectional view, Figure 1, are opposed to the members shown in side View there and join the oppoi.

vOI

site ends of the members I I shown in cross section in exactly the same manner as do the first mentioned members II.

The frame of the form of the invention illus trated in Figure 1 appears as a six-faced figure with each of its six faces configuring the low relief of a four sided truncated pyramid. Each of the six faces then embodies a cavity with a plurality of steps encircling its walls. The side of each frame member II has steps I2 upon both sides. These steps are so arranged that those upon each frame member register at their extremities with others at right angles thereto and upon the adjoining members. Thus each face of the entire frame exposes a group of continuous steps I 2 offset from the next, the concatenation reaching to the outer edges of said face.

The diagonal edge of each of the members II may be scored with a tenon groove I6 coextensive with the length of said edge. When three of 'these edges are brought together in the process of forming the frame, a splined tenon member I! having three protuberances I8 is brought into coengagement with the frame members by means of the grooves I 6. The splined member H in "this manner provides a dovetail joint between the three frame members to lock them in place. With such a construction at each of the joining edges of the frame members, the frame is made into a strong and rigid structure.

With the frame of the device in assembly as above described, the cabinet I4 is placed therein. It will be observed in Figure 1 that grooves I9 are cut within the lower of the inwardly exposed edges of the trapezoidal frame members I I to form a seat for the lower corners of the cabinet.

An opening conforming to a horizontal section of the cabinet I5 is configured by the inner adjoined edges of the upper members II to facilitate the insertion of the cabinet from that side. After the cabinet is seated upon the lower members II, and between the side members II similarly engaging the vertical corners of the cabinet, a rectangular frame 20 is brought into position cocontiguous with the top face .of the cabinet and the inner edges of the upper frame members II. By fastening the frame 20 into such position to the adjacent members II, it serves as a stop to the egress of the cabinet, hence the cabinet is securely held within the frame and against movement in any direction.

Subsequent to the placing of the cabinet I5 within the frame I0, panels 2-I are attached to the sides of the frame. The panels 2| consist of any strong heat insulating sheet material and are cut rectangular or square, as the case might be, to fit snugly into the stepped recesses of progressive circumference. The extent of the faces 22 of the steps I2 determines the breadth of the voids between the panels. Panels of a smaller area are secured to the steps nearer the interior of the frame by any standard means suchas by tacking,or by a suitable adhesive. The area of the panels is increased in accordance with the increase in perimeter of the stepped surfaces as the exterior of the frame is approached. The outermost panels within the sides of the frame may be covered by a thick protective panel 22a.

As an impediment to the transfer of radiant heat through the box walls, a bright metallic material may be applied to each of the opposed flat surfaces of the panels 2|. Since the voids between the panels are insulators to the .conduction of heat as are the frame members in support of the panels, the walls of the box preclude the transfer of heat either by conduction or by radiation.

The third manner by which heat is conveyed, namely convection, is greatly overcome by the arrangement of the series of voids for the reason that the differences of temperature subjected to opposite sides of the voids is not sufficient to cause a turbulation of the air therein. Further, the shape of the voids is averse to an agitation of cumulative effect of the air.

Access to the cabinet is had by way of an opening 23 in the top side of the box. An aperture 24 in thetop side I4 of the cabinet I5 is in alined relationship with similarly shaped holes 24a. in the panels .2I thereabove. Usually it is desired to uniformly increase the size of the holes in the panels coforming the opening 23 as the panels approach the exterior, so that a door frame member .25 will be on a slant to contain a door in a wedge-like manner.

The door frame member 25 and the door therefor, not shown, are ordinarily of a heat insulating material. Panels not unlike those in the box "walls'may'form the body of the door to cause it to have the same heat transfer characteristics as the walls of the box for the inclusion or exclusion of heat in or from the box.

Figures 4 and 6 illustrate a box with a frame structure somewhat modified in respect to that "illustrated in the three lower numbered figures.

The opposite faces of the plane-like frame members 25a are formed of laminated elements 26, the laminations 21 in one of the elements lying normal to those in the other. By uniformly increasing the breadth of the laminations 21, these being of wood or other strong heat insulating material, from a common base line, the steps 28 are provided to accommodate the laying of the panels .29. Panels 29 are secured to the steps in the manner before described and may include in their structure bright metallic faces.

It will be noted that the mode of assembly here employed brings the frame members together .flatlyto dispense with the operation of beveling the adjoining edges thereof. The material of the .frame members is not in this case equally divided by a plane likewise dividing the frame member diametrically opposite but rather the opposed frame members are set on opposite sides .of such .a plane.

The form of the device shown in Figures 5 and '7 is assembled very similarly to the next preceding form which has been described. Laminations 35 of a heat insulating material enjoin the frame members 36. In this form, however, the panels, instead of abutting against the step face provided by the next outward lamination, are assembled intermediate the laminations. There is no bright metal foil applied to the part of the panels incorporated into the frame structure. If such were the case, a heat conductive path would be established from the exterior of the box to each --of the wall voids to defeat in part the purposes of the box. In this form, where the panels are fabricated with the frame members, the metallic surface is only applied to the .portions of the faces lying between the frame parts.

Another modification of the box is illustrated in Figures 8, 9, and 10. This form is similar in its construction to that illustrated in Figure 1 and differs therefrom only in that the number of frame members is increased. Diagonal frame members 40 are trapezoidal in shape and have grooves in parallelism to the two parallel edges thereof to configure steps 4| for the placement of panels 42 adjacent the latters edges.

In cosupport of the frame members 40 along their cornered edges is a storage cabinet 43. Extending perpendicularly from a central position of the faces of the cabinet 43 are other trapezoidal shaped frame members 44 having steps both upon the sides and the ends thereof. The steps on the ends of the frame members 44 engage the steps upon the perpendicular members 40 as shown at Ma. Figure 9. Panels 42 are divided into four parts or quadrants by the frame pieces 44, two edges of the divided members being held in position by a step of the intersecting members 44, the opposite edges thereof being supported by a selected step in the opposed frame members 40 in a manner to hold the panels parallel to the adjacent face of the cabinet 43.

The top side of the box may contain a block of Wood or molded heat insulating material as a door casing 45. Steps or notches 46 in the lateral edges of the casing 45 serve to support the edges of the panels 42 within that box side. An opening 48 communicating to the interior of the cabinet through an opening 49 within the cabinet wall is shaped like the frustum of a rectangular pyramid with the opening walls converging inwardly.

The walls of the opening 48 may be fitted with a gasket 5% circumscribant thereof, and the door 5| to fit into the opening 48 may have a gasket 52 therein so that when the door is closed against the gaskets, an air space will be formed between the said gaskets.

A box very similar to that shown in Figure 4 is shown in Figure 11. The latter mentioned figure illustrates a form of the invention in which the diagonally arranged frame members 60 are of a solid structure instead of being fabricated from fiat pieces of material of a selected thickness. The members 69 at two opposite sides of the box, and providing steps 61 for panels 62, are displaced from a centered corner position toward one another to aline one stepped face thereof with said centered corner.

' Figures 12, 13, and 14 disclose a form of the invention having frame members Ill and H of solid heat insulating material such as wood and which may be assembled with the side panels 12 and 12a respectively before the frame members are completely assembled with one another. For example, four members '10 may be assembled into a four-sided window with the panels '12 placed and secured to the steps 13 thereon. Four of these figures, each being formed of four of the members 70, may then be fastened into position to comprise four sides of the box in much the fashion of a four-sided prism with the ends open.

The other parts ll are then assembled with the panels 12a to form the closures for the remaining two sides or ends of the box. The two opposite ends of the box made from the frame members H are of smaller dimensions than the other sides of the box and telescope into the end openings.

A heavy panel 14 is inserted between the members H to rest flush with the inner edge thereof. Similarly, a strong panel 15 is encircled by the inner edge of the frame members 10. When completely assembled, the panels 14 and 15 and the inner face of the frame members 10 and H effect a smooth lining for the box. An opening 16 may be provided within one of the sides of the box in an identical manner as heretofore described.

Although the invention has been described in several different forms and employing a polished metal surface as an element for retarding heat radiation, it is to be understood that any surface having a low factor of emissivity may be substituted therefor.

All forms of the invention have the advantage of having the space between each pair of opposed panels sealed and isolated from the other spaces similarly sealed. Each cube-like structure contained within the other is enclosed by six independent air spaces rather than by a single air space as would be the case if independently assembled boxes were supported one within the other by means of engagement at the eight corners. The factor of loss of insulating efliciency due to injury or faulty workmanship is then minimized in a ratio of six to one.

What is claimed as new and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In an insulated cabinet, a wall comprising a frame member about each edge thereof, each frame member being obliquely angular to the face of the wall and coextensive with the thickness thereof, and having parallel longitudinal steps therein, the steps on adjacent frame members being aligned toprovide a series of seats of graduated size, and a sheet of insulating material upon each of said seats.

2. The wall structure described in claim 1, and in which the wall has four frame members with mitered ends.

3. The wall structure described in claim 1, and in which the frame members have mitered ends, and each frame member is common to two walls.

4. The wall structure described in claim 1, and in which the frame members are wide relatively thin members having steps on opposite sides thereof.

5. In a parallelepiped shaped cabinet having walls, members at each edge thereof and forming a frame, four of said members defining each side of said cabinet, and each of said members being at an angle of forty-five degrees to the surface of the adjacent walls.

6. In a parallelepiped shaped. cabinet having walls of sheet material, members at each edge thereof and forming a frame, four of said members defining each side of said cabinet, each of said members being at an angle of forty-five degrees to the surface of the wall supported by it, and having steps therein, the steps of adjacent members being in alignment, and sheets of insulating material upon said steps.

VIRGINIUS W. MOODY. 

